mithen
Middle English edit
Etymology edit
From Old English mīþan (“to hide, conceal; keep to oneself, dissemble; conceal oneself, remain concealed; avoid, shun, refrain from”). Cognate with Dutch mijden (“to avoid, evade”), German meiden (“to avoid, shun, forbear”).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
mithen (third-person singular simple present mitheth, present participle mithende, mithynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle mithed)
- (transitive) To avoid; shun; evade.
- (transitive) To escape the notice of.
- (transitive) To conceal; dissemble (feelings, etc.).
- ca 1300, w:Cursor Mundi, line 10942
- Þof þat þai mournand were, Þai mithed it mikel wit þair chere ("Though they were mouning, they hid it much with their cheer". See also this version.)
- (intransitive) To remain concealed; escape notice
Conjugation edit
Conjugation of mithen (weak in -ed)
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.